The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Special Meeting at 12:00 p.m., in the Board Room, at the Dr. Vernon McDaniel Building, 215 West Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida, with the following present:

Chair: Ms. Linda Finkelstein (was not present)

Vice Chair: Mrs. Cary Stidham

Board Members: Mrs. Carissa Bergosh (was not present)

Mr. Ronnie L. Clark (was not present)

Dr. John DeWitt

School Board Attorney:  Mr. Francisco M. Negron, Jr. (was not present)

Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Jim Paul (was not present)

(NOTE: According to the advertisement for this Special Meeting (and all Special Meetings involving an update from the School Boards Legislative Consultants), regardless of the presence of a quorum, Board Members who were present, could inquire of the Legislative Consultant during the conference call, provided that no action was taken at the meeting.)

I. CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Stidham called the Special Meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.

II. REPORT FROM MIXON AND ASSOCIATES, LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS

Ms. Terry Golden, Mixon and Associates, gave an update (via speakerphone) regarding the following legislative issues:

House Bill 83 Relating to FRS/Instructional Personnel/DROP: Increases period of time in which members of Florida Retirement System who are employed as instructional for certain retired members to participate in DROP. Ms. Golden stated that HB 83 “came out” of Education Appropriation Sub Committee. She noted that “some form of that bill will likely pass.”

House Bill 467 Relating to High School Graduation: Provides learning opportunities for certain students to meet high school graduation requirements; provides requirements for certain transfer students; authorizes alternate assessments; authorizes rules; amends provisions regarding student assessment for public schools; provides for alternative assessments for grade 10 FCAT.  Senate Bill 2546 Relating to Public Schools/FCAT/Native Language: Authorizes certain students to take grade 10 FCAT in their native language under certain circumstances.  Ms. Golden stated that HB 467 and its counterpart SB 2546 were “both moving.”

House Bill 819 Relating to Instructional Materials/K-12: Revises notification date regarding requisition of instructional materials; revises date by which Education Committee must appoint state instructional materials; revises dates regarding bids or proposals and advertisements; revises date for adoption of instructional materials; revises date for term of adoption; requires individual basis for purchase by school districts, etc.  Senate Bill 1838 Relating to Instructional Materials/K-12: Changes date by which school superintendents must notify DOE regarding certain instructional materials; requires publishers to provide and price adopted instructional materials on individual basis for purchase by school districts; provides limitations on purchasing authority; revises provisions regarding issuance of purchase orders; provides for application of certain provisions, etc.  Ms. Golden advised that both HB 819 and its counterpart SB 1838 were “moving.”

House Bill 1279 Relating to Charter Schools: Requires emphasis on reading; requires certain accountability measures; authorizes community colleges to develop charter schools; revises application requirements; revises administrative fees charged by sponsor for provision of services; provides report to Governor; revises eligibility criteria for charter school capital outlay funding; provides allocation criteria for future said outlay appropriations, etc. Senate Bill 2242 Relating to Charter Schools: Requires emphasis on reading; authorizes state university or community college to sponsor charter school; eliminates limitations on number of charter schools per school district; revises administrative fee sponsor is authorized to withhold; revises conditions for charter school capital outlay funds may be used, etc.  Ms. Golden stated that HB 1279 and its counterpart SB 2242 were “moving.”

House Bill 1739 Relating to Access to Post-secondary Education: Creates provision regarding access to post-secondary education and meaningful careers for students with disabilities; amends provision regarding high school graduation requirements; requires State Education Board to adopt rules providing for test accommodations and modifications of procedures for students with disabilities; amends provisions regarding admissions of students to community colleges, etc.  Ms. Golden advised that HB 1739, the “first education bill of the session,” had “passed and gone to the Governor.”

Senate Bill 262 Relating to Property Owned by Local Governments/House Bill 667: Relating to Local Government/Recordkeeping (both contain exactly the same verbiage): Provides for disposition of certain surplus state lands; revises definition to increase monetary value of fixtures and tangible personal property that must be included in inventory of property; repeals provision regarding disposition of surplus property.  Ms. Golden stated that SB 262 and its counterpart HB 667 would increase the monetary value of fixtures and tangible personal property that must be included in inventory of property, from $750 to $1,000.

Senate Bill 612 Relating to School Board Members/Legislators/Terms: Constitutional amendment to provide that person may not serve more than 12 consecutive years, beginning with the election following election at which amendment is ratified, as member of district school board and to further provide that maximum allowable term of office for members of State Legislature shall be increased from 8 years to 12 years.  Ms. Golden advised that SB 612 was “moving” and would be “heard on the Senate floor this week.”  She noted that the House versions of this particular bill were “not moving at all.”

Senate Bill 672 Relating to District School Taxation: Revises expenditures that are authorized from proceeds of district school taxes; provides for rental or lease of certain buildings, certain payments for libraries, and servicing of payments for certain certificates of participation.  House Bill 499 Relating to District School Taxation: Provides that fuel sales tax and county fuel tax returned to school districts may be used to fund transportation-related expenses; authorizes certain expenditures from district school taxes for capital improvement; places restrictions on use of tax revenues by school districts that fail to meet constitutional class size requirements in 2010.  Ms. Golden stated that both SB 672 and HB 499 would allow school districts to use discretionary two-mill funds to purchase property casualty insurance. 

Senate Bill 1334 Relating to Universal Pre-kindergarten Education: Implements specified provisions of State Constitution; creates voluntary universal pre-kindergarten education program; limits application of provisions regarding school readiness programs; requires State Board of Education to submit report with recommendations or options for on curriculum, design, and standards of said program; directs OPPAGA and Auditor General to conduct audits and submit reports, etc.  Ms. Golden advised that SB 1334 was “sitting in the House.”  She noted that this particular bill requires a study to be conducted regarding pre-k funding.  She believed that “nothing on pre-k would change for the next year.”

Senate Bill 2170 Relating to Charter School Districts: Provides additional criteria for establishment of charter school district; provides for renewal of charter.  Ms. Golden believed that SB 2170 was “about to pass the Senate and then go on to the House.”

III. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the Special Meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

Attest:                               Approved:

__________________     __________________

Superintendent                  Chair